The word is out, Big Sean, the VMA and BET award-winning rapper is headlining Yorkfest.
I will admit that “IDFWU” is catchy and I love swearing like a trucker along with the chorus while I’m driving in heavy traffic. Calvin Harris’ ”Open Wide” featuring Big Sean is my running song.
But I am very confused about the YFS’ decision to pick Big Sean when they made an interesting and, to the York community, respectful decision about the headlining artist in 2013.
It was a Tuesday around 10 p.m. and production night at Excalibur was in full swing. Our news section was almost done and we were doing our final copy edits for next morning’s publication.
Suddenly one of the editors rushed in and told us to “stop the presses.”
News broke out that A$AP Rocky, the YFS’ chosen headliner for the 2013 YorkFest concert, was accused of hitting a woman at a concert in Philadelphia. As a result, the YFS cancelled him as the leading act.
We had a new front page story.
Aside from their website, which read “This event cannot proceed until this matter is resolved,” the YFS never really did tell us, or any other media outlets for that matter, exactly why the performance was cancelled.
From where students were sitting, however, this decision seemed thoughtful and respectful. It sent the message that people accused of violence against women were not welcome in the York community.
This year, however, they have invited Big Sean.
Big Sean appeared in court himself when he was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old at a concert a few years ago. The charges of third-degree sexual assault and forcible touching were dropped when he plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unlawful imprisonment and was ordered to pay a $750 fine.
So, rather than having a rapper who allegedly slapped a woman in the face accidentally at a concert when he was waving away fans, the YFS has invited someone who was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor in a highly publicized case?
Something about this situation just isn’t right.
Appearing in court for waving your hand around and coming into contact with someone’s face on accident is very different than appearing in court to fight third-degree sexual abuse, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, and forcible touching charges.
We will never know what actually happened, but one cannot just ignore the fact that Big Sean pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment. The other charges were dropped because of it, leaving the remainder of the details somewhat inconclusive.
Keep in mind that the concert’s venue, York, has recently taken many strides against sexual assault and violence. York’s Board of Governors passed the university’s first sexual assault policy in February.
Taking all of this into account, why would you even think about inviting someone accused of this to perform a concert for people between the ages of 17 and 22?
One could easily argue that the reason A$AP Rocky was cancelled was simply bad timing. The incident occurred basically a week before the concert, so the YFS acted fast given the time sensitivity of the situation.
But does that make it okay to invite someone who has been accused of this, something that is actually very relevant to the age group of the students at York?
What kind of message does giving a person who had to defend a sexual abuse charge a platform to literally go on stage and say, “You little stupid ass bitch,” give to the community?
Beyond all of these things, the YFS’ action is hypocritical.
Regardless of whether or not they intended it, the YFS made themselves look good by cancelling A$AP Rocky for what he was accused of.
And now? They’ve gone and blown it.
It seems as if the YFS doesn’t give a fuck.
They chose a relevant, current rap artist without stopping to really think about the implications it can have about their goals as an organization, or certain members of the student body that may be offended.
Ashley Glovasky, Executive Editor (Online)
Illustration courtesy of Christopher Lai, Comics and Graphics Editor
